The Birth of Jesus Christ

2 In those days ^(A)a decree went out from ^(B)Caesar Augustus that all the world should be ^(C)registered. ² This was the first ^(D)registration when^[a] Quirinius ^(E)was governor of Syria. ³ And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴ And Joseph also went up ^(F)from Galilee, from the town of ^(G)Nazareth, to Judea, to ^(H)the city of David, which is called ^(I)Bethlehem, ^(J)because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,^[b] who was with child. ⁶ And ^(K)while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and ^(L)wrapped him in swaddling cloths and ^(M)laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in ^(N)the inn.^[c]

^3 (A)I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and ^(B)in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”^[a]

² Beloved, we are ^(A)God's children ^(B)now, and what we will be ^(C)has not yet appeared; but we know that ^(D)when he appears^{[a] (E)}we shall be like him, because ^(F)we shall see him as he is.

The Rider on a White Horse

¹¹ Then I saw ^(A)heaven opened, and behold, ^(B)a white horse! The one sitting on it is called ^(C)Faithful and True, and ^(D)in righteousness he judges and makes war. ^12 (E)His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are ^(F)many diadems, and he has ^(G)a name written that no one knows but himself. ¹³ He is clothed in ^(H)a robe dipped in^[a] blood, and the name by which he is called is ^(I)The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies of heaven, ^(J)arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, ^(K)were following him on white horses. ^15 (L)From his mouth comes a sharp sword ^(M)with which to strike down the nations, and ^(N)he will rule^[b] them with a rod of iron. ^(O)He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh ^(P)he has a name written, ^(Q)King of kings and Lord of lords.

The Word Became Flesh

1 ^(A)In the beginning was ^(B)the Word, and ^(C)the Word was with God, and ^(D)the Word was God.